Kostunica warns EU of threats against Serbia

"Serbia is threat to no one, but Serbia is threatened, and there are many threats made to Serbia by numerous statements on a unilateral declaration of independence, by statements that if Kosovo does not become independent, Albanians will be dissatisfied and will take up violence (...) These are threats made not only to Serbia but also to the basic principles of international law", Kostunica said in Brussels on Wednesday.

Serbia's Prime minister, in official visit to Brussels, was meeting the president of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Parliament Hans Gert Potering and the EU High Representative for foreign and security policy Javier Solana.

In an answer to a question from the press, Kostunica said last week's statements by the Serbian Secretary of state for Kosovo Dusan Prorokovic on Belgrade's threats of "use of force" in Kosovo were "incorrectly interpreted" by the New York Times.

"Serbia is committed to serious negotiations, the way it has done until now", he said, adding that after the Vienna talks on August 30, Belgrade was awaiting a new round in London on September 18 and the beginning of direct talks with Pristina on September 28 in New York.

"Since I am in Brussels, I will use the opportunity to remind that the founding European treaty also supports the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act about the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries (...) we believe it is very easy to come to a compromise if one respects these principles written down in the UN Charter", Kostunica said.

Serbia's Prime Minister argued that Belgrade had developed "more than precise and detailed institutional arrangements for the substantial autonomy of Kosovo that will enable Kosovo to develop freely but without violating the principle of territorial sovereignty and integrity of existing countries".

He said Martti Ahtisaari's plan had failed since it was not adopted in the UN Security Council and since it violated the UN Charter.

"The international community and the European union should make a clear warning that any unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo is not only violating the UN Charter, but is also a threat to stability and peace in the region and in the world", Kostunica added.

High representative Solana said the EU would refrain from making any statements that could jeopardize the talks currently under way, including statements about possible outcomes of the talks.

He said this was an agreement between the EU countries, the US, Russia, Belgrade and Pristina.

The president of the European parliament Hans-Gert Potering said there were still "110 days for the negotiations" and that there "might still be a possibility for agreement".

"The wish is to have an agreement in the UN Security Council. This seems not to be possible at this state, but one might use for these 110 days for a solution in the UN Security Council", Potering said.